A former teacher who engaged in sexual activity with a teenage boy she was tutoring has been jailed for four years and six months.
Emily Drury, 26, of Tuplin Road, Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to one charge of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a teenage boy and four charges of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a teenage boy.
Appearing at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday, Drury was sentenced to four years and six months in prison and placed on the sex offenders' register for life. She must serve at least half of her sentence before she can be considered for release.
Victim's statement
In a statement read out in court, the victim said: "She was kind to me. She would say positive things to me, buy me clothes, she would talk to me and made me feel better about myself. I trusted her and confided in her about some very personal things."
The boy described how he was concerned about how his reports would be perceived by others due to his age and gender, but also due to Drury being an adult woman in a position of trust and authority. He said: "I felt judged. I felt that people blamed me. I felt unable to simply be a child. I worried that people would not take me seriously because I am a boy. I believed there was a stigma attached to being a male victim of sexual abuse, and that fear made it even harder to cope."
Drury made the victim's burden even harder as she waited "until the very last opportunity" to plead guilty to her crimes. The boy, therefore, spent months worrying about the uncertainty of the outcome of the case.
Police response
Lincolnshire Police said he showed "remarkable courage and resilience", with his willingness to come forward playing an "instrumental" part in convicting Drury.
Detective Constable Julie Jode, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "Drury abused her position of trust and exploited the access she had to a vulnerable young person for her own purposes. As an adult in a position of authority, she was expected to provide guidance, support, and protection. Instead, she used that position to target and manipulate someone who should have been able to trust her implicitly."
She added: "Offences of this nature can have a profound and lasting impact on victims, particularly when they involve a significant imbalance of power and an abuse of trust. The victim in this case was forced to navigate an incredibly difficult and challenging period of his life while also facing the uncertainty of a lengthy criminal justice process. The fact that the offender delayed accepting responsibility only added to that ordeal. Throughout the investigation, the victim showed exceptional courage, dignity, and resilience. He came forward despite concerns about how he might be perceived and remained committed to seeing the process through. His bravery has been instrumental in securing this outcome and ensuring the offender has been held accountable for her despicable actions."
